CM suggests bulletproof container

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has ordered foolproof security arrangements from Wazirabad to Rawalpindi for the participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) long march.

Presiding over a meeting on Tuesday, he asserted that there would be no compromise on the security of the PTI leadership and the participants, and the use of bulletproof rostrum and glass should be ensured on the container leading the march.

He said a new bulletproof container should be prepared. The Punjab government would provide all possible support in this regard, he said.

Police officials presented a proposed plan regarding security of the long march in the meeting attended by PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Moonis Elahi, Umar Ayub and Hussain Elahi.

The participants reviewed in detail the security arrangements for the march that would resume on Thursday.

The CM issued instructions for ensuring foolproof security arrangements for the participants of the march in every city from Wazirabad to Rawalpindi.

He said snipers should be deputed on the rooftops of buildings along the route.

About 15,000 police personnel will be deployed on the route, he noted.

The chief minister said the police control room should actively function round the clock.

The long march should be monitored with drone cameras and two-tier security should be arranged, he added.

He emphasised that foolproof security arrangements should be made in every aspect and police and administrative officers should be deputed for coordination in each district.

He said additional police force should be called from other districts to Rawalpindi. The CM ordered that the accomplices of a man who had threatened to assassinate former prime minister Imran Khan in Hafizabad should also be brought to justice. "The police are my team and I value their sacrifices," he concluded.

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there had been a murder attack on Imran Khan, and the delay in the registration of FIR had caused public concern and questions had bee. raised.

He said the FIR that had been registered had been rejected by 'everyone'.

He said he admired the sacrifices of the police. He clarified that he had not criticised the department but expressed concerns about an individual in a recent speech.

Imran Khan had thanked the police twice for the excellent security arrangements in Gujranwala, he added. Like the police, there are talented officers in every department and average officers too. Qureshi claimed that his speech had been misrepresented.

"Some elements are afraid of our long march," he said, adding that they did not want it to take place.

PTI leader Asad Umar said the police had provided the best security during the long march. "We will proceed with the best coordination during the long march starting on Thursday," he added.

The chief secretary, additional chief secretary (home), additional inspectors general of Special Branch, operations and Counter-Terrorism Department, DIG operations, Lahore CCPO, Rescue 1122 DG, Gujrat commissioner and RPO, as well as DCs and DPOs of Gujrat, Sialkot, Wazirabad and Hafizabad attended the meeting. Administration and police officials from Rawalpindi and Jhelum participated through video link.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2022.